Review: Minä valitsin sinut

Laura Lehtola, Milja Sarkola: I Chose You

Laura Lehtola’s bright, smart and humorous books are a pleasure to read. But also to broaden horizons. A couple of years ago, I read the book I Chose You more as a relationship story than as a lesbian depiction, which in turn has been taken as a spearhead in the Helsinki City Theatre’s play. I was a little surprised by this, but it only tells you how different ways a work of art can be received and processed.

The play follows the plot and content of the book closely, even down to individual lines. The story is based on Antti, who studies sexual minorities: for him, the main characters tell their story from the beginning, and at the same time for us viewers. On stage, the performance is also boosted by music and group scenes, where you can even start dancing.

Elisa and Saara become roommates when Elisa moves to the city to study, and Saara soon falls in love. For Elisa, a relationship with a woman is new, and it takes time for her to realize the same in herself. The time is the beginning of the 2000s, when attitudes towards sexual minorities were not as open as they are today.

The play – like the book – describes the difficulties caused by the relationship at that time; the problems of the minority under the pressure of the majority population. Sleeping in the same bed cannot be confessed to Elisa’s parents, who are happy with their daughter’s comfortable roommate. Shame and secrecy are part of the spirit of the times. The air is thick with prejudices and stereotypes, which Saara in particular makes the most of by mocking. Among other things, there is a hilarious scene on stage in which drunk, short-haired lesbians in their red-and-black plaid shirts hold their mutual gathering evening in the hope of finding a partner. I didn’t understand all the inside jokes from the old days, but the audience had fun and applause was given spontaneously several times.

At the time of the play, there was no adoption right for gay couples or an equal marriage law, and Päivi Räsänen is not shy away from her name. When the relationship between the women becomes established, it also becomes topical to have a child. Saara gives birth to Matias, who grows up with two mothers.

But before that, love and a relationship develop, which the play depicts warmly beautifully. The sex scenes are done stylishly, boldly showing passion. Mutual trust is strengthened, humour and sharp intellect unite the couple. But after a long time together, there are problems, and it is not related to anyone’s gender. Saara’s bohemian attitude begins to irritate Elisa, who feels that she has to both provide for the family and take care of the house.

The actors are excellent, especially Misa Lommi as the feminine Elisa and Wenla Reimaluoto as the dude-like Saara are perfectly in place just as they could be imagined in the book. The team’s cooperation on stage works great, which is a pleasure to watch. The costumes, set design and music follow a uniform, natural line: the whole is skilful work. Fresh, lively and interesting life and theatre.